The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-07-29
Prom regular correspondent
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WAsiIiS.ToS, y. e., July -, 1857.
The salutsry effects OF the lesssns
taught BY The recent exposure Of the ras-
caIities OF Bacon in the patent Office. and
Harvey In the treasury, are perceptibIe
Ia many ways. The heads Of Bureaus
are more diligent and vigilant a. well "a
exacting. regarding the methods Of con.
duciing public business. and the clerks
appreciate the state OF affairs by increas-
ed activity aud thoroughness in per-
forming their allotted tasks. In all the
there IL an III concealed
feeling Of apprehension. not 10 say sus-
pense, as to what q day may bring forth,
and your correspondent feels safe in pre-
dieting that the end is not yet-that 9TH
els ia high placea are covering ia abject
fear Of al impartial investigation Of their
doing ;, s,reslizing that the result would be
runous to them. have good reason to
believe that general but quiet exami-
nation Of the accounts Of all disbursing
officers is oeing made by direction Of no
less an authority than the President him
self
Postmaster General Villas was partly
engaged this week in the much needed
work Of revising the postal regulations,
which have not been amended since 1877.
The Postmaster General also found time
10 reply. la the negative. 70 the letter Of
the postal clerk, asking permission TO
hold convention 70 discuss the needs
OF the service, aud advising them that
the proper way TO secure those aims
and ends would be to make such sug-
gestions TO the department as might oc-
cur 10 them In the practical performance
Of their duties.
Up 10 the present this month. govern.
ment receipts amount TO about 4il .00O.-
coo. and the expenditures. inclusive of
sl3 OUOU0o. In pensions, 10 $I3.56i. IO2,
making an enormous excess OF disburse-
ments over receipts. II is estimated that
the receipts for the balance OF the mouth
will be 81 .0o0, 900 day, aud that the ex-
peudiiures will be fully A. large. The
total amount o. bonds redeemed under
the call. which maturel July ist, ia &l8.-
os0, $50. leaving still outstanding ot the
call $l,026.656. the whole amount Of
called bonds outstanding Is 50. $40, $50
Al present the treasury finds itself una
bic to supply the heavy demand tor
notes OF small denominations. but orders
have been issued TO do 80 as soon Is
practicable.
To prove that President Cleveland,
who hss probably received more abuse
aud adverse criticism from the soldiers
,han any Of his predecessors. is rcall,
their best friend. having doEe better by
them than any other President. il j. only
necessary 10 refer ~ the records of The
PENSION Office. During the first two
wears Of hiS term, President Cleveland
lAs approved sv3 private pension bills.
Gen ,iant, IN eight years, only approy-
ed fC5. Hayes IN four wears 3U3. aud
Garfield and Arthur but $50 IN The same
'ime In addition 10 this. President
Cleveland has approved three general
pension bills March 1911. 1856, increase
'ng 10 Twelve dollars the pensions ~ TO-
1s7 widows. minors and dependent rel
stives OF Union sOldiers August lih,
1856. increasing The pensions OF i0,U3o
niirm and maimed Union soldiers of
The civil war from &24 10 $50. from $50
70 $50, and from $50 10 e37 90 10 $s5
per month. The act OF January 9th,
1887, which has already placed upon the
pension rolls 3.455 survivors Of the Mex.
can war and their widows. and during
he present fiscal year that number will
De increased at least 25.UOO. The pen
ion Office records demonstrate beyond
he shade Of doubt, the assertion OF Re-,l
publican correspondents 10 the contrary
that l3l.l2O more cer-l
ificates of pensions were issued during
he first two years OF Democratic ad-
than during the last two
years OF Republican control. And DUR
ng the same time the sum distributed to
pensioners by the Democrats exceeds by
ElG6I7, ,026 80 the amount distributed BY
he Republicans for the same purpose
md time. II is also susceptible Of proof
hat in the matter OF new names added
10 the pension list, the Cleveland admin
il 15,40S names ahead Of the
ast two years Of the Republican regime.
Such strong arguments as these are suf-
hcient to put to shame the Republican
.harge that President Cleveland aud the
are unfriendIy to the soldiers
of the Union. Il
The disbursing officers OF the treasury
we're somewhat surprised the other
when duly authorized CON-
nittec Of expert accountants called un-
TO count their cash and see
{ the books would balance. Similar &C
ion will be tsken with all disbursing Of
icers. Their accounts have never been
,verhaued. aud II will be great won
Ter IL much crookedness In high places
: not uncovered.
g. A. s.